Will the Real Bill Gates Please Stand Up
Last week Bill Gates gave the commencement address at Harvard University. If you’ve ever heard Gates do any public speaking you know he’s no Steve Jobs (think of the nerd in those Apple television commercials and you’ll get the idea.) The day of the commencement I had the great misfortune to have to attempt to get to a board meeting in Cambridge. This is a bit like trying to get take-out from your favorite Szechuan joint on Melrose the night of the Academy Awards. Sitting in traffic near Harvard Square, surrounded by movers and shakers, I happened to tune in to WHRB, Harvard University’s radio station, which was broadcasting the ceremonies. I figured I’d listen to Gates’ intro, and then go back to my iPod.
I have to confess I was surprised. Hell, I was stunned. Gates’ speech was absolutely wonderful–funny, self-deprecating, and one of the most eloquent calls-to-action I’ve heard for young people to become engaged now in addressing global and apparently intractable problems. Let me know if you find this as inspiring as I have.
You can read the transcript of Gates’ remarks here:
